Carton feeding apparatus



July 28, 1942. R. w. VERGOBBI CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS Filed July 12,1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR M; @651, C umm ATTORNEY y 28, 1942- R. w.VERGOBBI CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 12, 1940INVENTOR BYTH-w. F MM ATTORNEY July 28, 1942. R. w. VERGOBBI 2,291,010

CARTON FEEDING APPARATUS Filed July 12, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 220 TMMAI-hm \fu mh BY c ATTORNEY Patented July 28, 1942 2,291,010 CARTONFEEDING APPARATUS Robert William Vergobbi, Quincy, Mass, assignor toPneumatic Scale Corporation,

Limited,

Quincy, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 12, 1940,Serial No. 345,149

19 Claims.

.This invention relates to carton feeding apparatus. The invention hasfor an object to provide a novel and improved carton feeding apparatuswhich is adapted to handle and feed a stack of knocked-down or collapsedcartons and to open successively fed cartons and to deliver the sameinto a pocket of a carrier by which the open cartons may be presented tofolding and sealing instrumentalities closing the bottom of the cartonpreparatory to the filling thereof. The improved carton feedingapparatus is simple in construction, positive in operation and lendsitself particularly for handling cartons formed of relatively thincarton forming material or board.

With this general object in view and such others as may hereinafterappear, the invention consists in the carton feeding apparatus and inthe various structures, arrangements and combinations of partshereinafter described and particularly defined in the claims at the endof this specification.

In the drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment of the invention,Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a carton feeder embodying the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the carton feeder shown in Fig. i;Fig. 3 is a detail view in front elevation, and partly in cross-section,of mechanism for advancing the stack of knocked-down cartons in theconveyer; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3;Figs. 5 and 6 are front and side elevations respectively of the cartonwithdrawing and opening mechanism to be referred to; Fig. 7 is anenlarged plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figs. 5 and 6showing the parts in position for withdrawing the foremost carton in thestack; Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the carton being transferredinto the pocket; and Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail view, partly incrosssection of the mechanism for providing lateral pressure against theforward portion of the stack.

In general, the present invention contemplates carton feeding apparatusin which provision is made for feeding the stack of the collapsedcartons in a horizontal direction and which are arranged with theindividual collapsed cartons standing on edge. The apparatus is providedwith carton withdrawing and opening means including a carton openingmember which is arranged to enter the endmost carton in the stack, andprovision is made for feeding the entire stack of cartons forwardly tocause the endmost carton to assume a definite position prior to theentrance of the carton opening member therein,

so that at such time, theentire stack of cartons comprises a dense massby reason of the pressure exerted upon the stack during the feedingoperation. In order to facilitate the withdrawal of the endmost cartonfrom the stack, provision is made for liberating a relatively few of theendmost cartons in the stack from the feeding pressure which has thusbeen exerted upon the stack. For this purpose, laterally operativeclamping members are preferably arranged to clamp the stack between themand to relieve the pressure from the endmost cartons in the stack.-While the carton stack is thus held by the lateral clamping means,provision is made for moving the stops against which the endmost cartonhas been pressed during the carton feeding operation so that a few ofthe endmost cartons assume a loose condition by reason .of the inherentspring in the individual cartons themselves. After the cartons haveassumed this condition, the carton opening member isinserted into theendmost carton and preferably moved in a novel and improved manner toopen the carton and transfer it to a pocket comprising one of the seriesof pockets upon a carrier. The movement of the carton opening member andthe relation of the pocket and associated guides to the carton openingmember cooperate to effect the opening of the carton, the collapsing ofthe carton through substantially degrees to break the material at thevertical. creases forming the corners of the carton, and the subsequentdisposition of the carton in the pocket, in such manner as to insuremost satisfactory and eificient squaring up of the carton therein.Another feature of the invention contemplates the provision of novel andimproved mechanism for feeding the carton stack forwardly and forenabling the machine to be supplied with a fresh supply of cartons in asimple and convenient manner.

Referring now to the drawings, [0 represents a magazine arranged tosupport a stack of knockeddown cartons [2 in a position to present theforemost carton in the stack in operative relation to a carton openingand transferring device, indicated generally at [4 and to a cartonpocket IE to which the carton is transferred in its open or squared upcondition. As herein shown, the stack of cartons are supportedvertically with their lower edges resting upon bottom rails 18, 20, andthe stack is supported laterally between guide rails 22, 24, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2. The forward end of the stack is supported by movable stopfingers 2B, 28 and provision is made for advancing the stack along themagazine and for pressing the forward end of the stack against the stopfingers 28, 28 as the cartons are withdrawn therefrom during theoperation of the machine.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the mechanism for advancing andapplying pressure to the rear of the stack I2, indicated generally at88, may comprise a. presser plate 82 engageable with the rear of thestack and which is carried by a lever 34 rockingly mounted upon a hollowshaft 86. The hollow shaft 88 is slidingly mounted upon an elongatedslide rod 38 extending lengthwise of the conveyer I8. As hereinillustrated, the presser plate lever 34 is supported between hubs 48, 42of a bracket 44 which is fixed to the hollow sliding shaft 36. The lowerend of the bracket 44 is provided with a pair of rollers 46, 48 whichembrace an elongated square shaped guide rod 58 in order to retain thebracket in a vertical position.

Provision is made for advancing the bracket 44 and the sliding unitbodily along the slide rod 38 to press the stack forward a distancesufficient to compensate for the carton withdrawn during each cycle ofoperation of the machine. As herein shown, the unit is advanced by meansof an endless chain 52 which passes over a driving sprocket-54 supportedin a bracket 56 attached to the forward end of the magazine I8, an idlersprocket 58, sprockets 68, 62 supported upon the movable bracket 44, andidler sprockets 64, 66 supported at the rear portion of the conveyer.The driving sprocket 54 is mounted upon a shaft 68 and is arranged to berotated by a pawl and ratchet mechanism 18 operated by an eccentric camI2 fast on the cam shaft I4. The cam shaft 14 may be driven by a chainconnection from the main portion of the packaging machine, not shown, toa sprocket 16 fixed to the end of the shaft, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.As herein illustrated, the ratchet I8 is fixed to the end of anelongated hub 88 extending from the driving sprocket 54 and a pawlcarrier arm 82 is rockingly mounted on the hub 88 between the sprocketand the ratchet. The pawl carrier arm 82 is provided with a pawl 84which cooperates with the ratchet 18 when the arm is rocked to turn thesprocket and move the chain 52. A second arm 86 extending from the pawlcarrier hub is connected by a link 88 to ayoke 98 which cooperates withthe eccentric cam I2. A spring 92 fixed to the arm 86 tends to hold theeccentric against the cam and is arranged to rock the pawl carrying arm82 to advance the chain 52 when the cam is rotated. Thus, the stack isheld under spring tension when the movement of the chain is transmittedto the stack advancing mechanism 38. as will be described. rather thanbeing positively moved during each cycle. In other words in the eventthat the stack is in a sufficiently compressed condition the spring 92will not operate to actuate the pawl and ratchet device 18. As viewed inFig. 1. the pawl 84 is arranged to rotate the ratchet I8 in a clockwisedirection. and a second pawl 94 mounted in the bracket 56 is arranged toprevent reverse movement of the ratchet.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4; a second pawl and ratchet mechanism 98is provided on the advancing unit 38, the pawl 98 being pivotallymounted on the bracket 44 and the ratchet I88 being secured to the shaftI82 upon which the sprocket 62 is mounted. The pawl 98 is normally inoperative engagement with the ratchet I88.

As a result of this construction, it will be observed that when thechain 82 is moved in the direction of the arrows, Fig. 1, the engagementof the ratchet I88 with the pawl 88 prevents rotation of the shaft I82and sprocket 82 so that the chain, in cooperation with the sprocket 82,will effect a movement of the advancing unit 88 in a direction such asto compress the stack against the stop fingers 26, 28. This constructionalso permits the sliding unit 88 to be retracted manually by disengagingthe pawl 88 in order to permit the stack to be replenished with a freshsupply of cartons. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the presser member 82 andbracket 84 may be swung outwardly into the position shown in dottedlines, when it is desired to add more cartons.

Provision is also made for automatically disengaging the pawl 98 fromits ratchet I88 when the presser plate 82 is rocked outwardly so as topermit the unit 38 to be free to move in either direction. As hereinshown, the bracket 84 is provided with a lug 35 which is arranged toengage the tall 81 of the pawl 98 when the presser plate 82 is swungoutwardly. In operation, with the pawl 98 thus disengaged, when the unitis manually retracted or advanced, the sprocket 82 is free to roll alongthe chain 52 in either direction. After the unit has been retracted, asdescribed, and afresh supply of cartons is deposited in the magazine,the presser plate is again rocked into its carton engaging position,thus freeing the pawl 98. However, the unit-may still be manuallyadvanced to press the unit into compressing engagement with the rear ofthe stack since, it will be observed, such advancement causes thesprocket 62 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, viewing Fig. 1,as it passes along the chain 52 and the pawl 88 merely slides over theratchet teeth. Thereafter, when the chain 52 is moved, as described, thepawl prevents rotation of the sprocket and the unit is caused to beadvanced to yieldingly compress the stack against the stop members 28,28. A second stop lug 89 is provided on the bracket 34 which is arrangedto engage the bracket 44 to limit the movement of the presser plate 82,as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

From the description thus far it will be observed that during oneportion of the operation of the apparatus, the stack of cartons in themagazine I8 are pressed with substantial pressure to cause the endmostcarton to be forced against the movable stop members 26, 28 in aposition such as is shown in Fig. 2. The stack of cartons in themagazine is compressed by such pressure and provision is made, inaccordance with the present invention, for relieving the endmost cartonfrom the effect of such pressure during that part of the operation ofthe machine when it is desired to effect the withdrawal and opening ofthe carton. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment of theinvention, this result is accomplished by a pair of carton engagingmembers I82, I84 which are arranged to be moved into position to engagethe lateral edges of at least one, and as herein shown, a plurality ofthose cartons immediately in the rear of the first few cartons at thedischarge end of the magazine so that when such clamping members areforced into engagement with the cartons, the effect of the pressurewhich is being exerted by the carton feeding means, as above described,is relieved from those cartons which are immediately in advance of theclamping means. After the clamping means have been brought intooperative clampin position, provision is made for rocking the stopmembers 26, 28 forwardly into a position such as to permit the endmostcarton to move into carton opening position and permit the naturalspring in the collapsed and compressed carton to restore it to a looseuncompressed condition, such as to facilitate the introduction thereinof the carton opening members, as will be hereinafter described.

As illustrated in detail in Figs. '1, 8 and 9, the clamping members I02,I04 for engaging and holding the cartons, as above described, aremounted upon brackets I06, I08, each provided with a threaded holeadapted to cooperate with threaded portions upon operating shafts IIO, II2 journaledin suitable bearings in the machine frame. The threadedholes in the brackets I06, I08 are arranged to thread onto right andleft hand threads H4, H6 respectively, of the threaded portions of eachshaft so that upon rotation of each shaft, the brackets aresimultaneously moved toward and from one another, depending upontherotation of the shaft, thus effecting movement of the clampingmembers into and out of clamping engagement with the lateral edges ofthe collapsed cartons, as clearly shown in Figs. '1 and 9. In order tooperate the clamping members I02, I04 to move the same into and fromclamping position, the shafts IIO, I I2 are arranged to be rotated byconnections including arms II8, I20 secured upon the ends of shafts H0,H2 connected by a connecting link I22 to operate in unison. The secondend I24 of the lower arm I20 is arranged to be connected by a link I26to one arm I28 of a cam lever I30 pivoted at I32 and the second arm I34of the cam lever is provided with a cam roll I36 arranged to cooperatewith the operating cam I38 upon the cam shaft 14 of the machine, seeFig.

1. A spring I40 serves to maintain the cam roll I36 in engagement withits cam I38 and to yieldingly urge the clamping members I02, I04 throughthe connections described into engagement with the edges of the cartonswhen permitted to do so by the cam.

The operating mechanism for moving the stop members 26, 28 into and fromcarton engaging position includes two sets of connections, each of whichcomprises a vertical shaft I42 upon which the stop arms 26, 28 aresecured, an operating arm I44 secured to the shaft connected by a linkI46 to the upper end of an operating lever I48 pivoted at a cross-shaftI50 and the cross-shaft is provided with a cam arm I52 secured theretohaving a cam roll I54 which cooperates with an operating cam I 56 uponthe cam shaft 14, a spring I58 serving to hold the cam roll against thecam, as shown in Fig. 1. In operation the cam I56 through theconnections described operates to move the arms 26, 28 into the positionillustrated in Figs. 2 and 8, where the feeding pressure exerted uponthe stack of cartons I2 serves to compress the entire stack and hold theendmost carton against the stop members.

In the operation of the machine, as above described, after the clampingmembers I02, I04 are moved into clamping position, the cam I56 operatesto permit the spring I58 to move the stop arms 26, 28 into the positionshown in Fig. 7

where the pressure upon the few cartons in advance of the clampingmembers is relieved and the endmost carton permitted, by the inherentspring in the cartons, to be moved into a position ready to receive thecarton opening members, the carton at this time resting against the stoparms in the position shown in full lines in Fig. '1.

In the operation of the machine, after the endmost carton has assumedthe position shown in Fig. '1, provision is made for moving a cartonopening member into the endmost carton and, as herein shown, two cartonopening knives I60, I62 are provided, mounted as illustrated in Fig. 5,upon supporting members I64, I66 attached to the bottom and toprespectively, of studs I68. I10 carried by and mounted in suitablehearings in supporting brackets I12, I14, slidingly mounted upon avertical shaft I16 to be capable of being moved toward one another inorder to be introduced into the endmost carton from the top and bottomthereof. Movement of the supporting brackets I12, I14 and associatedparts vertically upon the shaft is, as herein shown, effected froman-operating cam I18 on the cam shaft 14 through connections includingspaced hubs I80, I82 forming a part of each knife supporting member andbetween each pair of which is disposed a hub I84 mounted to slide on theshaft I 16. The hubs I84 are connected by links I86. I 88- to theopposite arms I90, I92 of a rocking member pivoted at I94, one arm I92of which carries a cam roll I96 arranged to travel in a closed cam pathI98 of the cam I18. The sliding hubs I84 are each provided with an arm200 integral therewith adapted to slidingly embrace a square rod 202mounted in a stationary part of the machine frame thus enabling theknife supporting brackets I12, I14 to be rocked with relation to thehubs I84 as will be described. From an inspection of Figs. 5 and 6, itwill be apparent that the cam I18 operates through the connectionsdescribed to effect the introduction of the knives I60, I62 into thecarton and subsequently to remove the same therefrom.

In the operation of the machine, after the knives I60, I62 have beenpartially introduced into the carton, provision is made for swinging thebrackets I12, I14 to effect withdrawal of the carton from the end of thestack, as will be described, and, during this withdrawal movement andwhile the knives are still being moved into the carton, provision ismade for twisting the knives to cause them to assume a positiontransverse to the major axis of the collapsed cartons to cause thecarton to assume the position illustrated in dotted lines at 203 in Fig.8, and to thereby effect the opening of the carton sufficiently so thatsubsequent movement of the knives in introducing the carton into thepocket I6 of the carrier or conveyer which may form part of the cartonclosing machine, may not effect the buckling of the carton or the undesired bending of the same. As herein shown, the mechanism for effectingtwisting of the knives includes an arm 204 clamped upon each stud I68,I10 connected by a link 206 to one arm 208 of a bell-crank, the secondarm 2I0 of which is provided with a cam roll 2I2 arranged to ride in acam path 2I4 in a bracket or plate 2I6 secured to and carried by asquare shaft 2I8 mounted in suitable supporting members 220, 222 at itsupper and lower end in fixed relation to the knife carryingbrackets I12,I14. As herein shown, the supporting arms 220, 222 are clamped to theupper and lower ends of the vertical shaft I16 and are arranged to berocked therewith when the supporting members I12, I14 are moved to,cause the knives I60, I62 to transfer the carton into the pocket I6, aswill be described. The

cam brackets 2I6 are adjustably clamped to the square shaft 2 I8 in aposition with relation to the vertically moving knife supportingbrackets I12, I14 such as to cause the knives to be twisted as describedjust before they have reached their maximum inward movement into thecarton. As illustrated in Fig. '1, a spring 224 is provided in eachknife twisting unit which tends to urge the knife blades into theangular position described when the rollers 2I2 enter the end portions226 of the cam paths 2l4, near the end of the stroke of the insertingknives.

Referring now to Figs. 2, and 6, as therein shown, provision is made forswinging the knife carrying brackets I12, I14 so as to move the cartonfrom the magazine and to bend it in a direction reverse to its naturalcollapsed position or through substantially 180 degrees to therebyassist in breaking the corner creases of the carton so that, when thecarton is squared up in the pocket it will assume a perfectlyrectangular shape. Provision is also made for effecting movement of thecarton as the knife carrying brackets I12, I14 continue to swing todeposit the carton in a carton receiving pocket. As illustrated in Figs.5 and 6, the vertical shaft I16 is arranged to be rocked to swing theknife carrying brackets I12, I14 to effect transfer of the carton fromthe end of the stack into the pocket through connections from a cam 238on the cam shaft 14 including a three-armed cam lever 232 pivotallymounted at 234 and having a cam roller 236 cooperating with the cam 238.A second arm 238 is provided with a spring 248 arranged to hold the camroller against its cam, and a third arm 242 is connected by a link 244to the curved arm 222 which is clamped to the lower end of the verticalshaft I16. As hereinbefore described, the lower arm 222 is connected bythe square shaft 2I8 to the upper arm 228, and the slidingly mounted androckingly supported knife supporting members I12, I14 are each providedwith arms 246, having square shaped ends 248 adapted to slidinglyembrace the square shaft 2I8 so that in operation, when the arms 228,222 are rocked through the connections described, the swinging bracketsI12, I14 are moved to permit the knives I68, I62 to transfer the cartonto the pocket I6. It will be observed that the spring 248 tends to swingthe brackets I12, I14 outwardly when permitted to do so by the cam 238.

In the operation of the machine, during the initial swinging movementsof the knives I68, I62, the carton is moved to the position indicated indotted lines at 283 in Fig. 8 during which time the knives are twistedto open the carton as above described, and during subsequent swingingmovement of the knives, the leading corner of the carton is directed bythe knives between two fixed guide members, herein shown as comprising aplate 258 mounted upon the magazine frame and an angular bracket 252mounted upon a plate 254 adjustably secured in a bracket 256 alsosecured to the magazine frame, and these guide members are arranged toform, in effect, a narrow throat 258 and to engage the side panels andcomer portions of the carton being thus moved, which are immediatelyadjacent the leading edge or corner 268 of the carton so that as theknives continue to move the carton is first fully opened up as indicatedat 285 in dotted lines in Fig. 8 and thereafter as the leading corner268 of the carton passes through the narrow throat 258, the carton isbent back upon itself through substantially degrees, the rear faces orpanels of the carton moving rearwardly during this operation and theangular bracket 252 being spaced sufllciently from the end of themagazine to permit this rearward movement of the rear faces of thecarton during the swinging movement of the knife.

The leading corner 268 of the carton is moved through'the narrow throat258 and toward the corner 262 of the carton receiving pocket and whenthe carton arrives at the position shown in full lines in Fig. 8, partway into the pocket, provision is made for bending the carton stillfurther along the creased edges in a direction opposite to that whichthey assumed when the cartons were in their flat or knocked-downcondition in the stack in order to counteract the inherent spring of thecarton along the edges which would otherwise tend to return the cartonto its original flat position and cause the carton to assume anirregular position in the pocket. As illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, thisoperation is performed by swinging the movable side 265 of the pocket I6from its fully opened position, as shown in Fig. '7, into engagementwith the side of the carton as the latter passes through the narrowthroat 258. As herein shown, the movable side 265 of the pocket ismounted upon an arm 264 pivoted at 266 to permit it to swing against thetension of a spring 268 when an operating cam 218 holds the cam roll 212in the position shown in Fig. '1. When the operating cam 218 is rockedcounterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8, the roller 212 rides alongthe high spot 214 of the cam which permits the side 265 to engage thecarton as illustrated in Fig. 8 to bend the carton as described.Further, movement of the carton into the pocket will permit the cartonto open up naturally into its rectangular position in the pocketwhereupon further rocking movement of the operating cam causes themovable side 265 to close in upon the carton to hold it in its squaredup position in the pocket. In the operation of the machine, the knivesI88, I62 are thereafter withdrawn and the knife supporting arms I12, I14are swung back to their original position in readiness to be insertedinto a succeeding carton. As illustrated diagrammatically in Figs. 2, 7and 8, the operating cam 218, pivotally mounted at 216 may form a partof the packaging machine, and. may be connected to an operating cam, notshown, by the link 218 and lever 288 forming part of the cam 218.

From the description above of the improved carton feeding apparatus andof its operation, it will be observed that the apparatus is relativelysimple in construction and positive in operation and that the cartonsare successively opened and moved into the successive pockets of thecarrier in a manner such as to minimize buckling and tearing of thecartons, thus enabling the apparatus to be used in feeding cartonscomposed of relatively thin board.

While the preferred embodiment ofthe invention has been hereinillustrated and described, it will be understood that the invention maybe embodied in other forms within the scope of the following claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, supporting means fora stack of collapsed cartons to be fed, means for exerting pressure uponthe stack to feed the same forwardly, stop means against which the stackof cartons are pressed by said pressing and feeding Y means, cartonopening means adapted to enter the endmost carton in the stack, andmeans for relieving the normally exerted feeding pressure from arelatively few cartons at the forward end of the stack prior to theremoval of the endmost carton therefrom whereby to facilitate theintroduction of the carton opening means into the endmost carton.

2. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, supporting means fora stack of collapsed cartons to be fed, means for exerting endwisepressure upon the stack to feed the same forwardly, stop means againstwhich the stack of cartons are pressed by said feeding means, cartonopening means adapted to enter the endmost carton in the stack, andmeans for relieving the normally exerted feeding pressure from arelatively few cartons at the forward end of the stack prior to theremoval of the endmost carton therefrom whereby to facilitate theintroduction of the carton opening means into the endmost carton, saidmeans including carton engaging means movable into a position to engagea carton spaced a short distance from the forward end of the stack.

3. Carton feeding apparatus having, in ,combination, a magazine forholding a stack of collapsed cartons and provided with a discharge end,pressing means for pressing the stack toward the discharge end of themagazine, means for elieving the pressure from the endmost carton in thestack prior to the removal of the endmost carton therefrom, and meansfor thereafter opening the endmost carton for removing it from thestack.

4. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forholding a stack of collapsed cartons and provided with a discharge end,pressing means for pressing the stack toward the discharge end of themagazine, means for relieving the pressure from the endmost carton inthe stack prior to the removal of the endmost carton therefrom, meansfor removing the endmost carton from the stack and for thereafteropening it into its fully opened condition.

5. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forholding a stack of collapsed cartons and having a discharge end,pressing means for pressing the stack toward the discharge end of themagazine, means for relieving the endmost carton in the stack from thepressure exerted by said pressing means prior to the removal of saidendmost carton from the stack, a carton opening member operable to enterthe endmost carton after said pressure has been relieved, and means formoving the carton opening member away from the discharge end of themagazine to remove the carton from the stack.

6. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forholding a stack of collapsed cartons and having a discharge end,pressing means for pressing the stack toward the discharge end of themagazine, means for relieving the endmost carton in the stack from thepressure exerted by said pressing means, a car- .ton opening memberoperable to enter the endmost carton after said pressure has beenrelieved, and means for moving the carton opening member to remove thecarton from the stack and for twisting the carton opening member topartially open the carton.

7. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forholding a stack of cartons and having a discharge end, pressing meansfor pressing the stack toward the discharge end of the magazine, stopmeans against which the endmost carton in the stack is pressed by thpressing means, means for moving the entire stop means into a positionto relieve the pressure on the endmost carton, a carton opening memberinsertable into the carton when the pressure has been thus relieved, andmeans for moving the same to withdraw the carton from the stack.

8. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forholding a stack of cartons having a discharge end, means for pressingthe stack toward the discharge end of the magazine, means for relievingthe endmost carton in the stack from pressure exerted by the pressingmeans prior to the removal of said endmost carton from the stack, meansfor removing the endmost carton from the stack, and carton openingmeans, said pressure relieving means including means for engaging acarton in the stack in the rear of the endmost carton.

9. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forholding a stack of cartons and for pressing the stack toward thedischarge end of the magazine and pressure relieving means for relievingthe pressure on the endmost carton prior to the removal of said endmostcarton from the stack including a member mounted upon the magazine andmovable into a position to engage one of the cartons in the stack in therear of said endmost carton, and a carton opening member insertable intothe endmost carton when said pressure has been relieved therefrom.

10. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forholding a stack of cartons, means for urging the stack toward thedischarge end of the magazine, carton holding means movable-into andfrom engagement with one of the cartons in the stack located in the rearof the endmost carton, stop means against which the endmost carton ispressed, operating mechanism for moving the carton holding means, andmeansfor moving the entire stop means into pressure relieving positionwhen the carton holding member has been moved into carton engagingposition and when the pressure has been thus relieved.

11, Carton feeding apparatus, having, in combination, a magazine forholding a stack of cartons, means for urging the stack toward thedischarge end of the magazine, carton holding means movable into andfrom engagement with one of the cartons in the stack located in the rearof the endmost carton, stop means comprising a pair of pivoted stopmembers cooperating with opposed marginal portions of the endmost cartonand against which the endmost carton is pressed, operating mechanism formoving the carton holding means, and means for moving both pivoted stopmembers into a position to relieve the pressure on the endmost cartonwhen the carton holding member has been moved into carton engagingposition.

1 Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forholding a stack of cartons, means for urging the stack toward thedischarge end thereof, carton holding means movable into and fromengagement with one of the cartons in the stack in the rear of theendmost carton, a pair of pivoted stop members, operating mechanism formoving the carton holding means, and operating mechanism for moving bothpivoted stop members first into a position to relieve the pressure onthe endmost carton and then into a position to permit discharge of thecarton from the magazine, and carton opening means insertable into theendmost carton when said pressure has been relieved.

13. In a carton feeding machine, in combination, a carton receivingpocket having an opening at one side thereof through which the cartonmay be introduced into the pocket and having one of its sides pivotallymounted, a carton opening member arranged to be inserted into theendmost carton in the stack, means for moving the carton opening memberto insert the same into the endmost carton to then withdraw the cartonand move it laterally into the pocket, and two guide members disposedbetween the end of the magazine and the pocket in the path of themovement of the carton, said guides being spaced to form a narrowopening for effecting the folding back of the carton throughsubstantially 180 as the carton is moved'between the guides, and meansfor closing the pivotal side of the pocket after the carton has beenintroduced therein.

14. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forsupporting a stack of collapsed cartons to be fed, a presser member forengaging the stack, means for advancing the presser member to feed thestack forwardly, stop means against which the forward end of the stackis pressed, and carton opening means adapted to enter and withdrawsuccessive cartons from the forward end of the stack, said pressermember being mounted to be capable of being moved into an inoperativeposition to permit a fresh stack of cartons to be introduced into themagazine and when in such position to be automatically disconnected fromsaid advancing means whereby to permit movement in either directionlengthwise of the stack.

15. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forsupporting a stack of collapsed cartons to be fed, a presser member forengaging the stack,'means for advancing the presser member to feed thestack forwardly, stop means against which the forward end of the stackis pressed, carton opening means adapted to enter and withdrawsuccessive cartons from the forward end of the stack, said pressermember being mounted to be capable of being swung laterally with respectto the movement of the stack of cartons into an inoperative position,and means operated by such movement of the presser member fordisconnecting it from said presser advancing means.

16. Carton feeding apparatus having, in combination, a magazine forsupporting a stack of collapsed cartons to be fed, a presser member forengaging the stack, means for advancing the presser member to feed thestack forwardly, stop means against which the forward end of the stackis pressed, carton opening means adapted to enter and withdrawsuccessive cartons from the forward end of the stack, said pressermember being mounted to be capable of being moved into an inoperativeposition to permit a fresh stack of cartons to be introduced into themagazine and when in such position to be automatically disconnected fromsaid advancing means whereby to permit movement into either directionlengthwise of the magazine, said stack advancing means including meansfor permitting the presser member to be manually retracted to permit afresh supply of cartons to be deposited in the magazine.

17. In a carton feeding machine, in combination, a carton receivingpocket having an opening at one side thereof through which the cartonmay be introduced into the pocket and having a side adjacent saidopening pivotally mounted, a carton opening member arranged to beinserted into the endmost carton in the stack, means for moving thecarton opening member to insert the same into the endmost carton, tothen withdraw the carton from the stack, and to then twist the cartonopening member with relation to the carton into a position to direct acorner of the carton through the opening in the carton receiving pocket,9. pair of guide members disposed between the end of the magazine andthe pocket in the path of movement of the carton, means for closing thepivotal side of the carton receiving pocket into a position to form withthe second guide member a narrow opening to effect the folding back ofthe carton through substantially 180 as the carton is moved between saidpivotal side of the carton pocket and said guide member, and means forthereafter closing the pivotal side of the pocket to square upthe'carton in the pocket.

18. In a carton feeding machine, in combination, a carton receivingpocket provided with an openingin one side thereof through which thecarton may be introduced into the pocket, a

magazine for holding a stack of collapsed cartons, a carton transferringmember movable into the endmost carton in the stack and operative towithdraw the carton therefrom and to transfer it directly into saidpocket, 8. pair of guide members forming a relatively narrow opening inthe path of movement of the carton, and means for twisting said cartonopening member on its own axis during said transferring movement wherebyto direct the leading comer of the carton through said relatively narrowopening to effect the folding back of the carton through substantially180 during said transferring movement.

19. In a. carton feeding machine, in combination, a carton receivingpocket provided with an opening in one side thereof through which thecarton may be introduced into the pocket, 9. magazine for holding astack of collapsed cartons, a carton transferring member movable intothe endmost carton in the stack and operative to withdraw the cartontherefrom and to transfer it directly into said pocket, 9. pair of guidememsaid relatively narrow opening to efiect the folding back of thecarton through substantially 180 during said transferring movement, saidguides being shaped to engage and bend the panels of the carton intolafully opened position and to permit free movement of the carton into itsopposite diagonally folded position during the transferring operation.

ROBERT WILLIAM VliIRCiOBBI.

